1. Bishop DuBourg
During the next school year, the school will introduce its Academy of Advanced Studies, in which outstanding students must complete at least 16 hours of honors or advanced college-credit courses.
2. Chesterfield Montessori School
In January, the school planned to bring in Joseph Garnier, a U.S. Chess Federation expert player and the 2005 Missouri Scholastic champion, to teach its chess club.
3. City Academy
Students learn to play violin in the Suzuki method, at a time when some schools are slashing their arts education programs.
4. The College School
Kindergarteners participate in a Story Workshop in which characters they create come alive through paper and other materials.
5. Community School
A new half-day nursery option provides a chance for wee ones to smoothly transition into a school atmosphere before preschool.
6. Forsyth School
During his time as the Nicholas Aaron Aitken Artist-in-Residence, sculptor/Wash. U. art professor Ron Fondaw is working with students to create a mud-coated structure.
7. The Fulton School at St. Albans
The school’s new Block by Design program lets students take three classes at a time in four-week blocks (as compared to the traditional approach of taking seven classes in 45-minute periods throughout the entire semester).
8. Gibault Catholic High School
To encourage manners and a finer appreciation of Charles Dickens, freshmen enjoy a tea party in conjunction with studying Great Expectations.
9. Living Water Academy
A new facility houses 10 classrooms, a gym with a walking track, a weight room, and a chapel.
10. Lutheran High School of St. Charles County
Every student receives an iPad 2, part of the school’s one-to-one technology initiative.
11. Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School
A recent $21.5 million donation—the largest gift in the school’s history—will provide funds for a 52,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility dedicated to science, technology, engineering, and math.
12. Messiah Lutheran School
The student council recently led Operation Christmas Child, a service project to provide kids in need with presents for the holidays.
13. Metro East Montessori School
A new snack program provides healthy dining options, grouped into three categories: grains (e.g., homemade granola), proteins (e.g., homemade hummus), and fruits and vegetables (preferably locally grown and in-season).
14. St. Joseph’s Academy
The school recently committed to becoming a laptop school, with wireless Internet available for students. Teachers also use SMART Boards—interactive whiteboards—to teach classes.
15. The St. Michael School of Clayton
The school’s Imagination Playground encourages creativity as children play with an assortment of blocks, crates, fabric, and carts.
16. Ursuline Academy
As part of a worldwide network of Ursuline schools, the academy hosts group exchanges with schools in countries like Brazil.
17. Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School
Students can visit Sprout Creek Farm in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., where they learn on an organic, 200-acre farm for a week.
18. Westgate Christian Academy
A “Motor Moms” group, comprising “enthusiasm generators,” gives parents the opportunity to provide more input about school programming.
19. Westminster Christian Academy
Fourteen-year-old twin brothers Eli and Sam Parham, who aspire to attend MIT, are taking part in the FIRST LEGO League and spend weekends rebuilding a classic car’s engine.
20. The Wilson School
In honor of St. Louis’ French heritage, students learn French, make French colonial villages from clay, cook French colonial recipes, and take field trips to historic French sites.
